To my roommate and university batchmate whose generosity touched us all

Deepal Piyatissa Wijerathna Jayasundera (D.P.W. Jayasundera) – DP or Deepal as he was known migrated to North America and settled down in Winnipeg, Canada about three decades ago.

He urged all of us to migrate to Canada saying, “In Canada, the sky is the limit” and took the initiative to arrange Permanent Residence (PR) under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program for my daughter and her family. Subsequently, my daughter and her family arranged for my wife Chandani and me to become Canadian citizens. If not for his sincere generosity, we would not be in Canada today.

Deepal was born in Kalagedihena, Sri Lanka. His father Jayasena Jayasundera was the Sub-Post Master in Kalagedihena and his mother Alice Jayasundera was a teacher in the Kalagedihena Government School. In 1961, Deepal won an islandwide competitive “Rupasinghe Scholarship” examination to Royal College. His name is seen in the Rupasinghe Scholarship Panel in the main hall of Royal College. He was an active member of the Royal College boxing team.

When I entered University of Ceylon, Colombo Campus (now University of Colombo), my father found a boarding place for me with one of his friends (E. R. Eratne) in Barnes Place, Colombo 7. It was here I met Deepal. He became both my roommate and my university batchmate. He was not only studious but also keen to maintain physical and mental fitness as a boxer and weightlifter. His routine was ‘early to bed and early to rise’ and a nap after lunch. He obtained University Colours for weightlifting.

He started his government career as a Valuation Officer at the Department of Valuation. Later, due to his sports background he was recruited to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) as a Flying Officer (Gazetted Officer).

Deepal married my second sister Thilaka. His best man was Tony Opatha (Sri Lanka Cricket Team/Flying Officer, SLAF) and his groomsman was Wijaya de Mel (Dept. of Valuation). When I married Chandani from the Wijetillake family, Deepal was the attesting witness at our marriage. He arranged for Wijaya to marry my elder sister, Yamuna. Because of this intimacy with my family, Deepal was like a brother to me.

Deepal worked at Western Glove Works in Winnipeg. After retirement, he moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta to live with his eldest daughter Nipunie and her family. His second daughter Yosha and her family are in Winnipeg and his son Asitha and his family are in St. Rose du Lac, Manitoba.

His motto was, “Unburdened with duties and frugal in ways” ( appakicco ca sallahuka-vutti), from the Discourse on Lovingkindness ( Karaniya Metta Sutta).

May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!